Batting

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – Capital University Softball began play in the Ohio Athletic Conference and came out with a pair of wins over John Carroll University on Tuesday afternoon. Cap consistently put up runs in its 7-2 game one win. Kayla Wild then dominated the circle in game two, shutting out the Blue Streaks to lead Cap to a 2-0 victory and doubleheader sweep.

GAME 1 – Capital 7, John Carroll 2

Working off its offensive turnaround from Monday's doubleheader at Bethany College, Capital scored first in the opening stanza. Sophomore Kristen Mellott (Clear Spring, Md./Clear Spring) posted the first of her two run-scoring hits when she drove home junior Bailey Walter (Ashland, ,Ohio/Crestview) from second on a double into the right center field gap. Though John Carroll replied with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to take the lead, the advantage was temporary.

In the top of the third, Walter recorded her second straight hit of the game and two batters later Mellott posted her second consecutive RBI double. Tied, 2-2, senior Sarah Jasinski (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont) drove home the eventual game-winning run with a single to right field.

Cap added another run in the fourth when sophomore Chevonne Hayslett (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg East) doubled and later scored on junior Pam Vicker's single though the left side of the infield. Two more runs came around when senior Natalie Mabry (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) cranked a shot to right center field that rattled off the wall, scoring senior Marisa Koss and Mellott.

While the offense ran fluidly, senior Amber Martinelli (Alison Park, Pa./Hampton) rebounded from the first-inning home run she surrendered. She retired 10 straight batted from the end of the first inning through the fourth. She allowed just three base runners from the second inning on. She rolled through the seventh to close out her seventh win of the season. Of the 17 outs from balls put in play, 14 were ground outs. Those complemented her three strikeouts on the day.

Hayslett finished 3-for-4 with one run scored, while three additional Crusaders posted multi-hit games.

GAME 2 – Capital 2, John Carroll 0

Freshman Kayla Wild (Brooklyn, Mich./Tecumseh) put on a show in game two of Tuesday's doubleheader. En route to earning her fourth win of the season, she struck out four Blue Streak hitters and allowed just three hits over her seven innings of work. While she allowed players to reach base in the game, only two made it to second base. Zero made it beyond that point.

The first two JCU runners reached base via walks, but in each inning Wild dispensed of the following batters to keep the Blue Streaks off the board. Wild rebounded after a runner reached base in the third via an error by striking out consecutive batters at the top of the order to retire the side.

Both of Capital's runs were scored in the fifth inning when Koss drew a walk and later scored on a field error in the infield. With two outs, Jasinski popped the ball up in the middle of the infield where the shortstop and second baseman collided and resulting in the ball dropping out of Lindsay McKnight's glove, allowing a run to score. Jasinski later scored when Hayslett drove a double into the left center field gap. The throw to the plate was dropped by the catcher before the tag could be applied, growing Capital's lead to 2-0.

Capital had the bases loaded with zero outs in the seventh, but relief pitcher Kelly Geringer got the force out at the plate on the next batter and forced two fly outs to retire the side without further damage.

Wild surrendered a one-out single, but induced a fielder's choice and fly out to end the game.

Capital spread seven hits over as many innings by seven different players.

Capital will take one day off and return to the diamond on Thursday for a midweek, nonconference doubleheader. The Purple and White will invite Kenyon College to Clowson Field for a 3:30 p.m. start to game one against the Ladies.